This woman inspires me. At 72 she is still looking after her body and health. She exercises daily and never quits. Other people her age are probably just sitting around watching TV all day or just lazing around. Even people half her age are too busy working to actually take the time to work out.

I had written down some lifestyle changes I wanted to make a while back and I am proud to announce that I am on my way towards a healthier lifestyle. My mother bought me a bicycle for my birthday and I have been riding it to and from work religiously. The ride itself is about 2 miles which takes me approximately 15-20 minutes. So each day I bike about 4 miles in 30-40 minutes. I really enjoy taking the extra time in the morning to breathe in the fresh air and realize how beautiful everything is in the morning. When we drive a car we tend to rush towards our next destination without looking at the scenery around us. When I ride my bike I start noticing the little things in life like breakfast being cooked down the street and kids being walked to the bus station by their parents. Its kind of nice noticing these things. Besides riding my bike I have continued to hike at least once a week.

These past few weeks have been filled with great times with fantastic friends. During this past weekend, one of my friends organized a beach cruise. There was about 7 cars in total and we all cruised down PCH. It was a bit tedious having to pull aside to wait cars stuck at the light but in the end we all made it to our destination. Half of the party stayed for the beach while the other half was just there for the cruise. We had a great day filled with laughs, smores, ghetto dogs and fighting for fire pits.

What do you see nurses? What do you see?
What are you thinking when you’re looking at me?
A cranky old man, not very wise,
Uncertain of habit, with faraway eyes?
Who dribbles his food and makes no reply.
When you say in a loud voice, ‘I do wish you’d try!’
Who seems not to notice the things that you do.
And forever is losing a sock or shoe?
Who, resisting or not, lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding, the long day to fill?
Is that what you’re thinking? Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse. You’re not looking at me.
I’ll tell you who I am as I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding, as I eat at your will.
I’m a small child of ten, with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters who love one another
A young boy of sixteen with wings on his feet
Dreaming that soon now a lover he’ll meet.
A groom soon at twenty my heart gives a leap.
Remembering, the vows that I promised to keep.
At twenty-five, now I have young of my own.
Who need me to guide and a secure happy home.
A man of thirty, my young now grown fast,
Bound to each other with ties that should last.
At forty, my young sons have grown and are gone,
But my woman is beside me to see I don’t mourn.
At fifty, once more, babies play ‘round my knee,
Again, we know children, my loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me. My wife is now dead.
I look at the future. I shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing young of their own.
And I think of the years, and the love that I’ve known.
I’m now an old man and nature is cruel.
It’s jest to make old age look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles. Grace and vigour, depart.
There is now a stone where I once had a heart.
But inside this old carcass, A young man still dwells,
And now and again my battered heart swells.
I remember the joys, I remember the pain.
And I’m loving and living life over again.
I think of the years, all too few, gone too fast.
And accept the stark fact that nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people. Open and see.
Not a cranky old man.
Look closer .. See.. Me.

The man who wrote this poem lived in a nursing home in Australia. When he passed away the nurses went through his possessions and found this beautiful poem. This poem teaches us not to judge someone by how they look but by who they are. It teaches us to live each day to the fullest so that when we look back at our lives we do not regret and wonder what could have been. So live each day like its your last. Make the right decisions and treat everyone with respect and love. For when we become older, we do not want to look back in shame but in happiness that we lived and loved.

“Life’s challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they’re supposed to help you discover who you are.”

-Bernice Johnson Reagon

Many people are scared of failing and its a normal feeling. However, when you let rejection and failure control your life that’s when its toxic. People who let these feelings control their lives no longer strive to better themselves. Instead they settle for a mediocre position where they know they’re safe. This is not a healthy way to live. We should be out there each day challenging ourselves to be the best that we can be and not settle.

I, myself, am guilty of letting rejection control my decisions. I know I am capable of doing so much more with my life but I’m scared of failing. When friends tell me of job openings I constantly turn them down because I feel that I am unqualified or that they want someone with more experience. But that’s where I need to change my perspective. It doesn’t matter if the business turns me down, at least I tried.

See the key here is that you need to TRY. Even if you are not fully qualified for the job the interviewer might like your personality and decide that they can train you for the position. Or maybe the interviewer decides that you are more qualified for a different position they are looking for. You never know where you’ll end up if you don’t put yourself out there and try. We need to aim high and hope that we are the best and most qualified and even if we’re not we will still end up where we’re suppose to be. Give yourself a chance. You might be surprised at where you end up.

A teacher once showed us a movie during class. The reason I remember this movie was because it really touched my heart and showed me that people can change if given a chance. The movie was called Pay It Forward.

In this film a boy named Trevor McKinney receives an assignment from his teacher that results in a revolution. The assignment was to ‘think of something to change the world and put it into action‘. After reviewing his assignment, Trevor conjures up the notion of paying it forward instead of back. In simpler terms, he is asking that a good deed be repaid by having it done for others instead, specifically three people. The film continues to show how a little boy was able to change the world by simply paying attention and showing a little kindness to those who needed it. It proved that a little kindness can change a person’s perspective and attitude.

The world we live in today constantly tells us that ‘you can only count on yourself’ and ‘to get to the top you have to step on a few toes to get there’. But what happens when you reach the top? You have everything you ever wanted but when you look back are you proud of yourself? Was hurting other people worth your new position?

I believe that humanity still exists in this world. For example, in the Olympics, Meghan Vogel, a 17-year-old Olympian, was participating in the 3,200 meter run. During the race she caught up to her competitor, Arden McMath, whose body was giving out on her. Instead of racing past her to avoid last place, Vogel, made the decision to put McMath’s arm around her shoulder and helped her across the finish line. This is true sportsmanship. Humanity does exist.

So my question to you is will you be like Trevor McKinney from Pay It Forward? Will you show kindness to those around you without expecting anything in return?

I challenge you to show a little kindness to someone today. Show others that humanity does exist in our world. pay it forward.

“Happiness resides not in possessions, and not in gold,happiness dwells in the soul”

-Democritus

The world we live in constantly reminds us that money is everything. Without money we would never be able to survive yet alone be happy. As children we were told to dream big and that we could be anything we wanted. Yet as we grew older, the more we realized that our dreams will not put the food on the table nor will it put a roof over our heads. We decided to create more realistic dreams and set forth to accomplish them. But in the process, we lose sight of who we are and instead become what society wants us to be; mindless drones.

Each and every day becomes a series of repetitive actions and the only thing we look forward to is retirement. Only then are we able to enjoy the rest of our lives and break away from society. Yet even then we are dependent on money and the only income we have is the money we saved and social security. Wouldn’t it be easier to find happiness in life rather than money?

We need to realize that happiness does not reside in money or in material possessions. We could have all the money in the world and still feel utterly alone. Though money is important it does not determine your happiness. We need to be true to ourselves and not give up our dreams because it won’t result in a high income. When we finally recognize that money is not happiness, it is then that we can truly be happy.

]]>https://eternallybliss.wordpress.com/2012/08/14/my-amazing-cake/feed/2blissx21My Stitch Cake Stitch Cake My Birthday Weekendhttps://eternallybliss.wordpress.com/2012/08/14/148/
https://eternallybliss.wordpress.com/2012/08/14/148/#respondTue, 14 Aug 2012 15:43:01 +0000http://eternallybliss.wordpress.com/?p=148This past weekend was extremely fun. On Friday, a couple of my coworkers and I decided to hit up happy hour for my birthday. We decided to stop by Sharkezz in Hermosa Beach because they had a pretty decent happy hour. We partied there until 8 and started heading on to our next destination. PIZZA! There was this pizza spot right across the street from Sharkezz and it was delicious!!

This was the first time I actually went out with coworkers and it was pretty fun. My boyfriend goes out with his coworkers all the time and it makes me wonder why I haven’t made any friends at work. I think its because I don’t try hard enough and I’m just in a different office than everyone else so its hard to talk to them. But I’m glad I actually took the effort to go out and hang out with new people because Friday night was a success.

On Saturday, I headed back to my mom’s house because I had to meet up some friends in Pasadena for lunch. Before lunch, my mom and I went to the mall so I could get a new watch. I had been looking at watches all week and couldn’t decide if I wanted a gold or silver watch. I finally decided on a gold Michael Kors watch and I absolutely love it. I finished just in time for my lunch date with my friends.

The girls I was meeting up for lunch were my pledge sisters from my sorority, Krystle and Nicole. We haven’t really had the time to hang out with each other because we were all busy with other engagements. However, the main reason behind this get together was because Krystle got into grad school and was leaving for San Francisco on Tuesday. We had a great meal at Mi Piace and continued to shop around Pasadena. After getting some yogurt dessert we said our good-byes and I headed back to Torrance to get ready for my birthday party.

My boyfriend and I decided to have my party at his work in Santa Monica. I had invited some friends and my boyfriend covered the bottle service as well as the food. The night was amazing, thanks to my boyfriend. He took care of everything and made sure that everyone was having a great time. He even bought me an amazing cake! (I will upload pictures later). After a night of crazy drinking and dancing we headed home and pigged out on Del Taco.

“I’m selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can’t handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don’t deserve me at my best.”
-Marilyn Monroe

“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.”
-Mae West

“In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on.”
-Robert Frost

“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.”
-Oscar Wilde

“It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not.”
-Andre Gide

“Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.”
-Mother Teresa

“To love. To be loved. To never forget your own insignificance. To never get used to the unspeakable violence and the vulgar disparity of life around you. To seek joy in the saddest places. To pursue beauty to its lair. To never simplify what is complicated or complicate what is simple. To respect strength, never power. Above all, to watch. To try and understand. To never look away. And never, never, to forget.”
-Arundhati Roy

“You’ve gotta dance like there’s nobody watching, Love like you’ll never be hurt, Sing like there’s Nobody listening, And live like it’s heaven on earth.”
-William W. Purkey